Music-roll for mechanical musical instruments.



`PATENTUU MAY 28,`19C7.

. H.P.BALL. 4 A MUSIC NCL-L PCR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9,- 1903.

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unirsi) erfenis .PATENT omen- ,HENRY PRICE BALL, or. NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR oFv oNE-HALF- To` SAMUEL INSULL,,()FYZI-IICAGO,4 ILLINOIS.

wluslc-noLL Fon v-wuscl-usumcm. MUSICAL yllifis'rrauwlEure.

`Svljpecifcatoxan of Letters Patent.' i Application led February 9,1903. Serial No. 142,507.

" Patented May 2s, 19o/7.

To all whomttm/ayl concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY PRICE BALL, a 1 citiZenofthe United States,residing at New York city, county and State ofNew York, haveinventedcertain new and useful llmrovementsI i'n Music-Rolls forMechanical usical Instruments, of which the following is aspecificationf.

, My inventin consists in the construction lo lof a music roll andits'supports, 'as also in the means whereby the muslc strip upon'themusic roll isv centered relative tothe trackerboard.

The object of my invention i's to provide a Amusic roll on which a musicstrip may freely .expand and contract when influenced by atmos hericconditions, and which will serve to gui e the music strip and cause itto register with the desired openings inpthetracker' '2o board, and thusovercome the objection-oi` z 5 ments employing a music strip and atracker- 3 5 Fig. 2 is a view 1n perspective'of the music roll 'and thedevices forexerting an inward pressure upon the guiding iianges andgiving Fig. 3 is a longitudinall motion to the roll. section through thetubeformin partof the 4o music roll. Fig. 4 is a longitu inal sectionthrough the tube, and vertical section through the guiding flanges atthe ends of the tube.

Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section and elevation' of a modified form.offroll, its supportin mechanism and centering mechanism, an

'also showing in elevation and section a music strip partially woundupon the 'music rolll Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the nip le used totransmit motion of the power sha t tothe 5o music roll.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the supporting body Jr'vor the musicstrip.v ,This may be constructed as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and/1, of ahollow tube, formed of any'materialwhch v will have substantially thesame coefcient of expansion' and contraction, under atmosphericconditions, as the substance of which the music stri is made. now comm'oy formed of pa er,.I may 'form this tube of paper; that is, I) may formthe tube of a er pulp or by su er'posing layers of Etliie re uired widthI wish it understood that-I do not limitLmyself-inanywise to the mannerof making the- -tube, or of the material from which it 'may be 'As music.strips are .upon each other until the desire diameter of tube isobtained.

made, so long as it will contract and ex and in accordance with thecontraction an expansion of the `music stri wound thereon.'

,Insteadlof-primarily orming the tube as vshown'in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, Imay form the supporting body by winding a/portion of the material fromwhich the music strip is made upon a separate body, as shown inFig'. 5iIn this figure, strips or' other forms of metal, or

' other material, 1 1 are connected together by 'means of rivets 12, andupon such body there is wound the required number of layers of thelmusic strip 13. It will be observed from a comparison' of Figs. 1, 3, 4and5, that'ineach form of music roll provision is made for 'theadmission .of atmospheric air to the interior of the supporting body.-`Tl1is I find to' be necessary owing to the fact that if air is onlyallowed access to the 'outside of the supporting body, it iwill notcontract and expand at the same ratio as that ofthe music strip Wound onit, but at ja different ratio. In

other words', to produce the best results, the' supporting body must beso constructed that the air wi ll act equally on all sides.

The supporting'body 10 is made preferably 'I slightly longer thanv the'width-of themusic strip: f Arranged ateach end of the 'supporting bodyare the guiding flanges 14, vhaving openings 15. To carry the supportingbody y and ilanges 14v in a mechanica musical instrument, withwhich itis to be used, and to 18, vand ends turned oppositely at right angles19. These nipples have their cylindrical portions 17 introduced intothesupportingv provi de means for transmitting motion to the l musicroll, there is arranged in each end of the supporting body the ni ples16, Fig. 6,. i These nipples consist 'of a cy mdrical portionv i 17,having the projecting parallel extensions Amusic strip 13 ex ands.

The music rol, so far as described', to-

' gether with the music strip wound thereon,

forms what may be termed a commercial music roll, such as is now soldfor use with mechanical, musical instruments.

In order to provide for moving the guiding -flanges inward uponcontraction of the music .strip ilipon'the music roll, I provide th'edisks 20. iese disks are mounted on and secured l' to short shafts21,22, carried in bearings 23,

on the mechanical musical instrument and in which they are'longitudinally movable. These shafts extend through the disks and areada ted to be introducedinto the open ings 24 etween 4the parallelextensions 18 of thev nipples 16, thereby supporting the roll. In orderto give motion to the roll, the disks 20-are slotted across their innerfaces, 25, to receive the ends'lQ of the nipples 16. The slots 25 aremade of such depth that when the disks 20 are moved inwardly the flanges14 will be brought in contact with the outer ends of the sup orting body10, beforethe ends of the nipp es 16 seat themselves in the bottom ofthe slots. Motion is transmitted to the music roll by means of the broadfaced gear 26, in mesh with a narrowfaced gear 27, on`shaft 22. i l Inorder to center the music roll'relative to the trackenboard, as well asto provide for the inward movement of the disks 20, there is mountedupon the shafts 21, 22, the collars 2S. These collars are slotted andlocated in the slots are pins 29, mounted in yokes 30, on the Aupper endof levers 31,- ivoted at 32. Connected to the lower end o `the levers31, are the. links 33, pivoted to a lever 34, which is pivoted at to theframe of the instrument and centrally of the tracker-board.

' In order t`o exert a constant elastic tension in an outward directionupon the links 33,

the spring36, is employed. The lever 34 is" also provided with a handle37, by means of which the position of the links 33 and the disks 2Omaybe regulated by hand.

The operation of the device is as follows Then changes in atmosphericconditions takeplace, the supporting body will expand and contract vwiththe music strip mounted on it. There expansion takes place, guidingflanges 14 are moved outwardly.. When contraction takes place, theguiding flanges`14 under the action of the s ring 36, acting through thelinks 83 and dis s 20, are moved inward. Centering of the roll :.is`eil`ected,

owing to the fact that the disks ..14 make `equal pressure on opposite'ends of the roll.

The centering device and means for moving the disks 20 inwardly I findto be well adapted for the purpose. I wish it understood, however, thatI do not limit myself to the employment of the mechanism described, asit is obvious that very many devices may be employed which willaccomplish the same result. L

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A music roll comprisingin its construetion, a supporting body having the same coefiicient ,ofexpansion as the' music strip wound thereon, nipples in the ends ofsaid. supporting body, and guiding iiangeslongitudinally movable onsaidnipples.

2. A music roll comprising in its eonstruc` tion, a supporting bodyvariable in length under atmospheric changes, nipples in the end of saidsupporting body, having ends at right angles Ato the body of the nipple,and guiding flanges carried by said nipples and longitudinally movablethereon.v

` 3. A music roll comprising a tube having the same expansion andcontraction as the music strip wound thereon, separate and freelymovable guiding flanges pressed lagainst each end of the tube, andlmeans whereby the tube and its flanges are centered in relation to thetracker-board of the instrument with which they are used.

4. lIn combination with a music roll comioo prising in its constructiona supporting body variable in length under atmospheric changes andprovided with longitudinally movable guiding ianges, also supports onwhich said anges move having turned up ends, of longitudinally movabledisks slotted on their inner*faces to receive the turned up ends of thesupports.

5. The combination with a music roll hav ing a supporting body variablein length under atmospheric changes, of means for centering said rollrelative. to the trackerboard, said means consisting of a lever pivotedcentrally of the tracker-board upon the musical instrument, an elastic,device exert ing a constant tension on said lever in one direction, andmeans interposed between the lever and the endsof the music roll,

`whereby the elastic tension exerted upon the lever will b e transmittedto and equally exerted upon opposite ends of the music roll.

6. In combination with a music roll provided with a su porting body andlongitudinally movable i anges, of a pair of longitudinally movablesupporting shafts. disks secured to said shafts, and means for exertingan inward elastic tension through said disks upon said guiding flanges.

7. The combination with a music roll, of longitudinally `movablesupports therefor,

30 .guidingflanges, and Iadapted to co-act with said driving means.

and means external tothe roll for producingl equal longitudinal travelof said supports.

. 8,'111 combination Witha muslcfroll, of

means' external to the roll for centering the roll in relation to thetracker-board in accordance with the expansion and contraction'ofsuchroll.V i j 9. In combination with aA music roll,4 of bearingstherefor, and means for4 moving the roll upon its bearings tov maintaina central relation with the tracker-board.

10. The comb` ation `of a tubular' body,

` freelymovable guiding flanges located in re- `to the tracker-board.

' lation to said body," suppo rting .bearings for said body and flanges,andI means ivoted centrally Aof the tracker-board of t e ma'- chine uponWhich the roll is used, adapted-to exert constant inward pressure uponthe guiding flanges and to center the roll relative 'said body, 'guidingflanges longitudinally 13. The combination with a music. roll and I'thelongitudinally movable bearings upon which it issupported, of collarson said bearings, levers co-acting With said collars, a pivotedlever,-means for exerting a constant t'ension in one direction uponSaid'lastnamed lever, and links interposed between saidl last 'namedlever and said first named lever.

14. The combination With a music. roll, of

guiding flanges at the ends of the roll but not connected to said. roll,journal pinsv carrying 'said guiding flanges, -and means for shiftingsaid .journal pins in theirbearings to maintain a point on the roll atthe center of the trackerboard. y

l15.- Thecombination with a music roll, of

l means not 'connected tothe roll for support-I ing the rollandcentering it in relation to the tracker-board, said .means comprisingsupporting flanges mountedon spindles located.

in bearings in which they are longitudinally movable, and means foreffecting longitudinal movement of said spindles in their bear- A ings.y

16.` The combinationvvitha music roll, ofl means for supporting saidmusic roll, centering it in relation to the tracker-board and rotatingit, said means consistin of supporting flanges not connected'to sairoll, spindles situated in bearings inWhich they are longitudinallymovable connected to said flan es, a narrow-faced gearmountedf'on one osaid spindles, a broad-facedgiear with which said narrow-faced gearco-acts, aiid .means ,for effecting' a co1nc1dent-longitud1nal movementof the spindles intheir bearings; f

sup orting and guiding flanges not connected tot e roll, means foreffecting a constant inl Wardvtens1on u on said flanges, spindlesconnected to said anges, bearings in which said spindles arelongitudinally movable, meansfor centering said 'roll in relation to"the tracker-board, andv meansfor rotating said roll irrespective of itsposition relative lto its supporting bearings.

18. A music roll comprising atube having .thesame ex ansion andcontraction-as the `material to whereby the tube is centered relative tothe .tracker-board. of tlfe musical instrument in .-Which it is used,and a flange pressed against e Wound thereon, vand means each end of thetube.

' 19. Amusic roll, comprising a cylindrical 'body variable .in lengthunder atmospheric conditions, a-perforated music strip Wound upon saidbody, independent guiding flanges situated atjthe opposite ends ofsaidbody and sides of. said music roll, independent 17'. The combinationwith amusicroll, of'

means located in the ends of the supporting body for supporting andpermitting longitudinal movement of said flanges relative to saidsupporting body, together with means fon-supporting and rotating saidparts 'in a mechanical musical instrument. n

20L Inrcombination, a music roll comprising a supporting body and aperforated music strip formed of material Which Willcoincidently expandand contract under atmospheric changes, and mechanism for supporting andcentering said music roll, comprising supporting and guiding flanges,spindles upon which said flanges are mounted, .and means for effectinglongitudinal movement of said spindles and flanges to maintain a pointonthe music roll atthe center ofthe trackerboard.

21. The combination with a music roll,

of'longitudinally movable bearing 4sup orts therefor, and means externalto the ro lfor producing fequal longitudinal travel of said supports.

22. A music roll comprising in its construction, a tubular body, guidingflanges at each end thereof, and. nipples securing the flanges tothe-body.,V i

23. A music roll comprising a tubular supporting body, a music stripthereon, separable flanges, tubular bodies for holding said flanges inrelation With the supporting body, and means for imparting rotary-motion to the supporting body, music strip and flanges.

24. A music roll comprising a tubular supporting body, a music stripthereon, separable flanges, su porting means for said ITO flanges heldin I e ation With said body by music roll comprising '.a'tubular body, a

Aat each end of the tube engaging with but 'the combination with a musicsheet take-up friction, and means for driving said parts when placed ina mechanical musical instrument.

25. A music roll comprising a tubular body, separable flanges at eachend of said body, separable nipples at each end of said body, saidnipples adapted to co-act with the driving means of a mechanical musicalinstrument to impart rotary movement to the roll.

26. In a mechanical musical instrument, a music roll comprising atubular body, .a music sheet wound thereon, a nipple at each end, disksindependent of the tubular body, and means for transmitting rotarymotion from the Idisks to the body through the nipple.

27 In a mechanical musical instrument, a

music sheet wound thereon, a flange at each end of the body," means forsecuring the flanges to the body, 'a pair of independent disks, andmeans for transmitting motion from the independent disks to the musicsheet.

'28.- In 'a mechanical musical instrument, a paper tube, a flange ateach end thereof, a nipple holding each flange in position, a diskdetachable from each nipple, said disks having free longitudinalmovementon but no rotary movement relative to said nipples.

29. A spool for a .music roll comprising a for reinforcing the tubularbody and securing the flanges in position.

30. A spool for a music roll comprising a ends of the tubular body, andflanges secured in position by said flanged members but not attachedthereto.

' 31. In a mechanical musical instrument,

roller, comprising opposed vflange members adiustable toward and awayfrom each* other; of means operatively connecting said flange members,arranged to insure their reciprocatory movement in definite relation to'each other.

3Q. A spool for a music roll comprising a tubular body, flanges at eachend of the body, `and tubular members securing the flanges in positionbut not attached thereto. 33. A spool Afor a music roll comprising atubular body, flanges at each end of the body, and tubular flangedmembers securing the flanges in position but not attached thereto. y

34. A spool for a music roll com )rising a tubular body, flanges at eachen body, and hollow flanged members securing the flanges inl positionbut not attached thereto.

35. A spool for a music roll comprising a tubular body, a` flange ateach end thereof, re-inforcing means for the tubular body securing theflanges in position, and separable flanged members serving as supportsfor the spool.

36, A spool for a music roll comprising a tubular body, a flange securedat each end thereof, and separable flanged members serving as supportsfor the spool.

37. A spool .for a music rollcomprising a' tubular body, a flangesecured at each end thereof, and separable flanged members serving assupports and driving means for 'the spool. tubular body, terminalflanges therefor, and

means structurallyindependent of the flanges 38. A spool for a musicrollcomprising a tubular body, a flange secured at each end thereof, andseparable members provided with clutching flanges serving as supportsfor the spool.

39. A. spool for a music roll comprising a tubular body, flanges at theends thereof, and spring pressed supports for the roll.

In testimony whereof, I. allix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY PRICE BALL. VVitnesse's LEWIS II. DAVENPORT, NrooLAr AALL. V

